A Content Management System (CMS) is a computer software that allows users to produce, manage, and alter the content on a web page without requiring technical knowledge. Initially, building and managing a website was a technical venture requiring much knowledge of the codes and various web development languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. With ease of use with the CMS platforms, even the most nontechnical individual can design and manage sites on these platforms.
In this article, we’ll discuss what a CMS is, how it works, all sorts of different CMS platforms, how it has been and becomes an important tool when developing and managing sites, and so on.
How Does a CMS Work?
At its core, a CMS separates a website’s content from its design and functionality. This means users can handle website content management without needing to know how to build a website.
Most CMS applications are comprised of two central components:
- Content Management Application (CMA): This is the friendly interface where users add, modify, or delete content without worrying about the underlying code.
- Content Delivery Application (CDA): This application translates the content from the CMA to make it functional and presentable on the website for viewing by the user on the internet. The back-end system will ensure everything works as it should when publishing the content.
Features of a CMS
In most cases, a CMS has featured multiple attributes that help a person or an organization build its website. Other functionalities include:
- Content Editing Tools: These allow formatting text, uploading pictures, and embedding videos on the website without HTML.
- Content Organisation: The CMS enables users to classify and tag their content, making their information accessible on a website.
- User Management: Most CMS platforms allow multiple users with varying roles and permissions. For example, an editor may be able to edit content, but only an administrator might have the right to publish it.
- Templates and Themes: A CMS will allow users to select from pre-existing templates or themes that change the website’s look but do not alter its content.
- Extensions and Plugins: The CMS is very extensible. Thus, one can add functionality by using a plugin or an extension. One can, for example, add social media sharing buttons or make an e-commerce website.
- SEO Optimisation: Most CMS systems contain inbuilt tools or plugins for users that optimize content, thereby bringing it online and increasing the website’s traffic and visibility.
- Analytics Integration: CMS systems easily integrate with analytics tools like Google Analytics to track website performance and visitor behaviour.
Types of CMS Platforms
Various CMS platforms are available to meet different requirements and technical demands. There are some of the most common kinds of CMS as follows:
1. Open-Source CMS
Free, open-source CMS: Free community developers maintain many such systems. They take the initiative of adding functionalities to the platforms. This type of CMS is very flexible because you may modify the source code based on your specific requirements; however, it may be complicated for the general masses.
- Examples: WordPress, Joomla, Drupal
2. Proprietary CMS
A particular company owns this CMS. Often, the use will require a license or even a subscription fee to acquire. The proprietary CMS might be easy to use. It also offers customer support, but the flexibility will usually not be as high as an open-source offer.
- Examples: Shopify, Squarespace, Wix
3. Cloud-Based CMS
Cloud-based CMS platforms are hosted in the cloud and are usually offered as a service. Users pay a monthly or annual fee to use the service. One advantage of a cloud-based CMS is that users do not have to worry about hosting or maintenance since the provider handles everything.
- Examples: HubSpot CMS, Webflow
4. Headless CMS
This CMS does not tie the content management in the back end to its presentation in the front end. The CMS manages the content but does not manage its presentation on the site. This allows for flexibility in how a site is built because one is free to use whatever they choose for the front end of the site.
- Examples: Contentful, Strapi
Popular CMS Platforms
Let’s take a closer look at a few of the most popular CMS platforms and what they offer:
1. WordPress
WordPress is one of the most used CMSs, managing over 40% of all online websites. Originally used as a blogging platform, it has now transformed into a full-fledged CMS that can handle anything from a small blog to large e-commerce sites.
- Pros: Highly customisable, extensive library of plugins, strong community support, easy to use.
- Cons: Could be slow if not optimised and might pose a risk to security if the plugins are not updated.
2. Joomla
Joomla is another powerful and open-source CMS whose versatility and scalability allow for customisation. Since the learning curve is also relatively steep, Joomla remains a suitable platform for complicated websites, perfect for experienced developers.
- Pros: User management is advanced, has high flexibility, and is a multi-lingual
- Cons: It is more complex than WordPress and has a smaller library, both plugin and theme libraries.
3. Drupal
Drupal is a highly flexible CMS often used on complex websites requiring extreme customisation. It is well known for offering high security; thus, government institutions and big companies use it.
- Pros: Secure, very customisable, very scalable.
- Cons: Highly technical/steep learning curve.
4. Shopify
Shopify is a proprietary CMS that mainly focuses on online stores. It creates an online store setup, handles the inventory, processes payment, and then ships according to it.
- Pros: Installation is easy, e-commerce specific, and includes hosting and security.
- Cons: Less flexibility as compared to open-source; expensive mostly.
Benefits of Using a CMS
There are many reasons people and companies use CMS to manage their websites.
1. Ease of Use
The most significant reason for using a CMS is that it lets nontechnical users develop and maintain website content without learning the code. This democratises website creation and makes business sites easier to update regularly.
2. Collaboration
This is also facilitated in a CMS because this system allows various users to work on a particular site simultaneously. Content writers can add their stories as designers change a website’s skin without necessarily interfering with each other’s processes.
3. Customization
CMS platforms use themes, templates, and plugins to enable the user to design and function the website with minimal need for customised code. This allows the development of unique sites for individual business needs.
4. Scalability
Most CMS platforms are also scalable. This implies the system will grow along with your business. That’s because, in the case of increased traffic or an expansion of business, features and capabilities can be readily added to your site by adding new plugins or customised code.
5. SEO-Friendly
Many CMS sites come with Seach Engine Optimisation (SEO) tools or plugins that can simplify the optimisation process to allow for better content on the search engine. The features of meta tags that you can customise to fit your needs, as well as alt images and clean URL structures, give your website a high probability of ranking better in the search engine.
6. Security
CMS platforms are generally secured with features like two-factor authentication, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) support, and vulnerability patching. However, to minimize security threats, update your CMS periodically and install high-quality plugins.
Conclusion
With all its features, CMS is a tool for generating and managing a website without requiring any technical knowledge. It enhances website management features to increase accessibility, scalability, and customizability, which is essential for maintaining an effective online business or personal presence. Whether you need a simple blog or a highly complex e-commerce site, one or more CMSs can meet your needs.
